They’re all great guys and talented writers… I don’t care what the internet says about them.

I vote for adding that last line to any comment on anyone. "Joe Schmoe? Lovely chap. Don't care what the internet says about him."

But I'm curious now. What does the internet say on them?

o On a more serious note, Comic Book Resources' Robert Taylor interviews Matthew Clark, penciler of DC Comics' Outsiders, about a year after Clark suffered a heart attack. Among other things, the artist discusses how his health is affecting his working hours.

It's a tough balancing act. I now put in my time eight hours a day, six days a week. I now take one day off a week and relax. I know my editors wish I was the old me, working 14-18 hour days and pulling all-nighters. Unfortunately, I can't and won't do that anymore. No matter what, when the clock hits 11:30pm it's quitting time. I make no apologies for it because I won't put myself back in the hospital.

Clark also gives his thoughts on the recent crossover storyline running through Outsiders and Checkmate.

Jesus [Saiz, Checkmate artist] had left just before, and [artist] Joe [Bennett] was wrapping up 52, so I was working on my issue of Outsiders, then Joe comes in and starts working on Checkmate. Then he changed the costumes on characters, which I understand. He wanted to make a mark. You want to make them your own, but really--during the middle of a crossover? Wait 'till its finished then make the changes. Several of my pages were penciled and inked with the Saiz costumes for Checkmate. So, that part was frustrating.

It was one of those projects that had moments of good times and bad. In the end, I'm proud of my pages and how they came out. There were several pages I wanted to draw for story purpose as I thought it was the best part. But had to pass them over. Life during a crossover--sigh.

So when the Beast asks Professor X "Why did you have us dress like superheroes?" what is really asking? Could he be deconstructing that which requires no deconstruction? Could he be seeking his own "yellow Spandex" line? Is he speaking on behalf of the writer, and really asking "Why do I have to work with these silly concepts?"

Apparently, the issue is a source of great inspiration for Byrne - shortly after, he starts another thread.

Comments in other threads got me thinking. Here's a short list -- not in any way intended as definitive -- of what I consider Warning Signs that maybe you should not be reading, writing or drawing superhero comics:

A need to…

• … "justify" the wearing of costumes (or)

• … get rid of the costumes altogether

• … make, or have the characters make, snarky remarks about the established idioms and conceits of the genre

• … focus as much as possible on the civilian identies of the lead characters, sometimes to the complete exclusion of the "alter-ego"